Australian Open: Novak Djokovic the main hurdle for Andy Murray in Melbourne

Andy Murray is capable of winning this year’s Australian Open according to Greg Rusedski – provided he can stop Novak Djokovic.

The former British No 1 believes Murray will reach the final and that it is difficult to predict how a final between the world’s top two would go.

Rusedski admitted he would not “bet against” Djokovic taking the crown.

However, when asked about Murray potentially winning the competition, he said: “Of course, he is coming off his best-ever season.

“I think he will get to the final. I think anything can happen on the day. Obviously Novak Djokovic is the man to beat at the moment, and you can’t really bet against him.”

Djokovic may have won three of the four Grand Slam competitions he competed in last year, but Rusedski thinks matches between Murray and the 28-year-old demonstrated the potential for the Glasgow-native to cause a minor upset.

He continued: “You look at their matches in slam finals last year and the Australian Open went to four sets. It looked like Djokovic was going to be out of it and then he had this spell where he came back because it looked like he had been struggling.

“At the French Open he took him all the way to five sets in the semis. He has pushed him close. He beat him in Montreal last year, although that was a two out of three-set match.

“So I think if he gets to the final, anything can happen on the day.

“Look at Stan Wawrinka last year at the French Open, he hit through Novak and Novak got a bit tight in the situation.

“I think he definitely has a chance, and I think that realistically he can reach the final and that anything can happen.

“Will I be putting money on him against Djokovic in the final? It would be hard to do so, because Djokovic has been ridiculously good.”